What is the difference between electronic and mechanical interlocking of transfer windows?

 The transfer window is an effective purification equipment to prevent contamination. The complete set of equipment is economical and affordable. It is a transfer device for clean rooms and can meet the strict environmental control requirements of operating rooms, laboratories, and other places. It is characterized by double door interlocking, which effectively reduces the number of times workers enter the clean room for passing items and prevents outside air from entering the clean room. Among them, mechanical interlocking transfer windows and electronic interlocking transfer windows are two common types of transfer windows. This article will introduce the technical principles and differences between mechanical interlocking and electronic interlocking of the transfer window.

 When using stainless steel transfer windows, we often encounter two different interlocking methods, namely electronic interlocking and mechanical interlocking. These two interlocking methods have some differences in principles and applications.

1. First of all, electronic interlocking controls electronic components such as circuits and sensors. This interlocking method usually requires a power supply to make the electronic components work properly. When certain conditions are met, transfer windows can be automatically interlocked. The principle is that the normally closed contacts of two relays are connected to the coil control circuit of another relay. When one relay is energized, it is impossible to form a closed loop on the coil of the other relay. As shown in the figure below, KM1 and KM2 are electrically interlocked. If SB1 is pressed at the same time, SB2 will not work to prevent the main circuit from short-circuiting.

In contrast, a mechanical interlock is an interlocking system implemented through a mechanical device, including components such as springs, locking pins, slots, and connecting rods. Interlocking is achieved by mechanically linking and moving the position of the device via a mechanical lever arrangement. The most common mechanical transmission mechanism is to extend a long lever into the window. By rotating the mechanical device on the lever, the lock of the window enters or exits the groove in the window, thereby achieving the sealing and opening of the window. This interlocking method does not rely on electronic components and therefore does not require an additional power supply. Mechanical interlocking mainly relies on the structure and mechanical device of the transfer window itself to control and interlock the opening and closing status of the transfer window. Mechanical interlocks are generally more stable and reliable because their operation is not affected by factors such as electrical failures.

2. In addition, there are some differences in safety between electronic interlocks and mechanical interlocks. Electronic interlocking can improve the security of the delivery window through more security measures, such as adding fingerprint recognition, face recognition, and other technologies to prevent illegal entry or unauthorized use. Electronic interlocking has the characteristics of a high degree of automation and easy operation. For example, when there are items in the transfer window, the electronic interlock can automatically sense the presence of the items and maintain the interlocking state until the transfer window is closed, thereby ensuring the safe transfer of items. Mechanical interlocks usually do not have these advanced safety functions and mainly rely on the reasonable design of their structures and interlocking devices to ensure safety.

3. Electronic interlocking is flexible and simple, relatively easy to implement, and the two interlocking devices can be installed at different locations, so they are less affected by environmental limitations. Mechanical interlocking is complex to implement and sometimes even impossible to implement. Usually, two interlocking devices are installed nearby. Therefore, most of the transfer windows on the market are electronic interlocking, and mechanical interlocking transfer windows account for a very small proportion. This is mainly because electronic interlocking transfer windows are easy to operate and can meet the basic functions of clean room transfer windows. The market test shows that the transfer window interlocking form is suitable for clean rooms.

4. Prices are different. The working principle of mechanical interlocking is simple, does not rely on electronic components, and has lower cost and maintenance requirements. If a high degree of automation, programmability, and integration with other systems is required, electronic interlocks may be more suitable but are more expensive.

To sum up, there are certain differences between electronic interlocking and mechanical interlocking transfer windows in terms of principle, application, price, and safety. The choice of interlocking method depends on the specific needs and usage environment. Whether it is electronic interlocking or mechanical interlocking, it can provide a certain degree of safety guarantee, making the transfer window more convenient, efficient, and safe in practical applications.